OAR 830-040-0090: Reimbursement for Cost of Services Performed and Supplies Provided for Disposition of Unclaimed Indigent Bodies

(1) A licensed funeral establishment, hereafter referred to as claimant, shall submit to the Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board (OMCB) an itemized statement of expenses for services performed and supplies provided for disposition of unclaimed indigent bodies. For the purpose of this section, “funeral establishment” also includes immediate disposition companies and persons acting as funeral service practitioners as defined in ORS 432. (a) Claims must be submitted to the OMCB within 90 days of final disposition of the decedent, except in cases where application to other state or federal agencies has been made and decision is pending; (b) In cases where application for reimbursement for cost of services performed and supplies provided has been denied by other state or federal agency, claimant may submit application for reimbursement to OMCB within 30 days of denial by other state or federal agency. (2) Each itemized statement shall be accompanied by the claimant’s certification that services for which reimbursement is claimed were in accordance with stipulations in ORS 97.170. (3) The OMCB shall make the Form FS 23-154 or similar document containing all pertinent information available at its office and on its website. (4) The OMCB shall disburse funds to eligible claimants upon receipt and verification of a claim. (a) In accordance with ORS 413.825, the maximum reimbursement will equal the invoice amount or the currently published annual reimbursement rate, whichever is less; and (b) The claimant must be current on all invoiced filing fees. (c) If the fund amount at the close of the accounting period is insufficient to pay the eligible claims for the month, the OMCB pay the claims using the collected funds referenced in ORS 413.825(1). (d) If the fund amount at the close of the accounting period exceeds the total amount of claimants’ itemized statements or the maximum per claim, the remaining funds will carry forward to the next accounting period and be made available to pay future claims up to the allowable maximum reimbursement or to repay the funds borrowed from the OMCB. (5) Fraudulent submission of Form 23-154 or similar document will result in penalties set forth in ORS 692.180. (6) An eligible reimbursement claim must include all expenses related to the case, and must include documentation of any reimbursement, in all or part, by any entity or person already made at time of filing. If a claimant receives payment from any other entity or person after a claim is filed, the claimant must: (a) Amend the claim, if not yet paid; (b) If already paid, the claimant must submit a reimbursement form and accompanying payment to the fund within 90 days of receiving any amount from any other entity or person. (7) In accordance with ORS 413.825(2), the OMCB shall set the annual reimbursement rate at the beginning of each biennium with an annual adjustment based on historical data and mortality projections. The reimbursement rate must be published by the OMCB on or before June 30, which becomes effective July 1 of each year.